Former Chief of Anesthesia and Hospital Settle Bias Suit for $7 Million

Not only did Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center pay its former chief of anesthesia $7 million to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit — it also named its pain management clinic after her.

Carol Warfield, MD, now 61, became chief of anesthesia at Beth Israel Deaconess in 2000 after 20 years on its medical staff. Josef Fischer, MD, was appointed chief of surgery the following year and, according to the lawsuit, mistreated Dr. Warfield on account of her gender. As detailed in the Boston Globe, Dr. Fischer's biased behavior reportedly included ignoring her in meetings, replying to male physicians after she'd spoken and requesting she be removed as anesthesia chief.

After filing a complaint with hospital chief executive Paul Levy, Dr. Warfield claims she was forced out of the position in 2007. She sued Dr. Fischer, Mr. Levy, Beth Israel Deaconess and its physician group in 2008, shortly before Mr. Levy ousted Dr. Fischer as surgical chief over management differences. Mr. Levy left the hospital in 2011, the Globe notes, in the midst of criticism over a relationship with and marriage to a female employee.

As part of the settlement, Beth Israel Deaconess also agreed to review its employee discrimination and retaliation reporting process and to name its pain management clinic after Dr. Warfield, who was instrumental in its expansion to international prominence.

"I am delighted that we've been able to resolve this and am very, very happy to move forward," Dr. Warfield told the Globe.

The trial had been scheduled to open on Monday. While the defendants did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, the hospital's attorney noted, "This case serves as a reminder that, with time and consideration, people of goodwill can learn from one another. As we look back on this case, there are lessons for the institution."

David Bernard